GEAR Software, a leading multimedia software company, today commenced an open public beta test for its new version of GEAR Video 9. GEAR Video 9 beta is designed for capturing, editing, compressing, and authoring video and audio content. It enables home users to burn to DVDs, and to prepare video that can later be posted to web sites using other tools. Based on GEAR's world-famous GEARWorks SDK, the burning engine in software products on millions of desktops worldwide, GEAR Video 9 represents the company's first significant consumer software product release in several years.

Upon registration, users will be emailed a link to download the GEAR Video 9 beta. Posting comments about GEAR Video 9 beta to the Beta Discussion Forum at GEAR's web site will automatically qualify participants for a prize raffle to win a HELIOSR X3000 Network Media Player, or one of three Helios H4000 Upscaling DVD Players.

"We envision GEAR Video 9 as a piece of software for home video makers. It is designed to provide a clear and easy path to great home movies and short presentations on DVD, DivX and for posting video on the internet," said Paul Deckers, Senior Product Manager, GEAR Windows Products. "Feedback from the public beta of GEAR Video 9 will show us how close we are to realizing our goal of making home movie authoring simple and fun."

Highlights of the beta version of GEAR Video 9 include increased format choice and new media editing and authoring features such as:

For two decades, GEAR Software has made products to align with market needs," said Deckers. "The public beta program for GEAR Video 9 is part of GEAR Software's continuous effort to involve its customers in order to make products that meet their real needs."